Steering stabilizer for automobiles



J, F, CAVANAGH STEERING STABILIZER FOR AUTOEflOBiLES Filed Nov. 295 1926zy/z. WWZW aA/aak ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

UNITED s'rA'rEs PAT E it i n in ce;

JOHN F. CAVANAGH, 0F PROVIDENCE, RKODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOB TOAPCOEYIANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF'PROVIDENGE, R-I-IODE ISLAND,ACORPORATION OE RHODE ISLAND.

STEERING- STABI IZER FOR AUTOMOBILES. l

This invention relates to en improved construction of stabilizing devicetor the steering mechanism of motor vehicles; and the invent-ion has forits object to provide sim ple and effective means which may be quicklyand easily positioned to prov-enta wiggling; wnliibling or so-calledshimmying motion of the forward wheels of the vehicle.

A i uitln-ir objectthe invention is to provide a resilient member havingone end arranged to apply the desired rearward, flexible tension orpressure directly upon the steering knuckle and its opposite endarranged to engage and press upon the cross rod which connects theknuckle joints, the device at the same time permitting a relativefrictional sliding movement at both of its ends of the parts engaged.

A still further object of the invention is to arrange this resilientwear take-up device to act in the form of a lever tulcrumed on the axleto have one end exert a wear take-up pressure on the joints oi thesteering knuckle, and its opposite enderranged to snap into engagementwith the connecting rod to exert a take-up pressure on the joints ofthis rod and at the same time permit the rod to slide back and forthunder such en.-

gaging pressure to prevent rattle in thejoints of the knuckles andconnecting rod in the steering mechanism.

A still further Ob'ect of the invention to provide a device of thischaracter wli'ich maybe readily snapped into posit-ion requiring notastenings but depending upon its own resiliency under tension to retainit in operating position after having snapped into placewhich are'theparts which went the fastest \Vith these and other objects in view, the.

invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will bemore tully described, and particularly pointed out in the 7 silientleveraction on the joint-of the steer ,ing knuckles; its other endbeingarranged to press and slide on the connecting rod.

l1 igure 3 an elevation show ng a p01 1 tion oi the axle with myimproved wear take-up device applied to the knuckle joints andconnecting rod. Y

Figure 4; a perspective view o'fi'nv wear take-up device ren'loved andshowing the same as formed of wire folded orbent substantially intoU-shape with spring loops in each arm. 1 i 1 L Figure 5 is a,modification showing the wear take-up member as formedof a strip ofsheet metal, one end beingeil'ranged to engage thesteering knuckle whilethe opposite end is grooved to be snapped into engagement with theconnecting rod to press and slide upon the same. i lt is found inpractice that certain parts otthe steering mechanism of automobilesquickly wear and so permit a Wabbling motion at the joints, this wearbeing more particularly noticeable on the king boltsand the hubsof thesteering knuckles and also i on the joints of the cross rod whichconnects those steering knuckles together and when these parts becomesufficiently worn the vehicle vibrates or w'ahbles from side'to sidewhich is sometimes known as shimmying,

which wabbling about is extremely annoyingv to the driver, serves towear the tires and also renders driving of thecnrdangerous particularlywhen running at ahigh rate of speed) T0 obviate this serious ditliculty.in

a simple and eilective way, I have arranged to apply pressure firstdirectly upon tliese'steering knuckles by employing a wear take-up Ilever the shortest end ot'whic'his arrangedto extend-through the axlefork and "fulcrum on this fork to engage and exert a rearward pressureon the king bolt huh thereof; and second, the longer end of the lever isarranged to engage and snap over the cross rod to also exert. aresilient frictional pressure thereon whereby this connecting rod ispermitted to slide back and fortlron the lever end, "the pressurethereon being sufficient to take up the lost motion in joints and at thesanietimeto apply'suflicient fricti n on the rod to prevent rattle ofthe parts and wa-bbhng ofthe vehicle wheels; and the following is adetailed description of the present embodiment of my invention andshowing one arrangement of wear take-up i 7 portion 16 on which thewheel17 rotates.

This hub is also provided with rearwardlyextending knuckle arm 18Uwh1charm and knuckle joints on the opposite endsiof the axle are joined by aconnecting-cross rod 19,whic h ispivoted at 20 to the. freecnd; of eachof these arms,the steering action bein' eonnnunicatcd to this cross rodthrough the steering; md 21 which is connected to the other parts of thesteering mechanism (not shown).": w ,1

Itisfound in practice that one of the principal causes of therattling,vibrating or wabbling of the steering parts of the automobile are due towear of the king bolt and itsbearings in the king bolt hub ofthissteerinn; knuckle; and that this action is further caused by wear at thejoints 20 where the cross rod is connected to the knuckle, andltoobviate this difficulty and takenp the wear on both this steeringknuckle and this rod simultaneously, I have provided a resilient lever22 which is arrangedto exert pressure on both of theseparts in arearward. direction. One form of this lever isbest shown in Figure 14,which is shown as beingjconr structed of wire bent into substantiallyU-form, each arm 23 ofwhich is provided with aeeoil or 1001324:intermediateits ends, the extren ity of the longer end of the lever armbeing folded or bent into hook form as over the connecting rod 19 andpermit this rod to frictionally slidjeendwaystherein.

Inpositioning this lever, the bridgeportion 25 thereof is set tQTeXtendJfrom the rear throughithe opening 26 in the fork of the axle tofrictionally engage the forward sidetof the steering knuckle hub; and isarrangedto be. fulerumed atthe point 27 on the fork of the axle,The'loop portions 24; a

of the lever arms being positioned over the axle to engage the nclinedrib ofthe fork to prevent an 1 endways movement"thereof and thelongarmportion 2310f this lever is then, sprung down under tension andits hookwshaped end portlonslfil snapped over the connecting-rodLQqfI'OID. whichlarrangenent amuse seen that the shorter amnof 1 the;leveris caused to exert the; greatest fries tional pressure; rearwardlyand directly upon the steering knuckle hub and the I longer a rm to moreyiel(lab1y1e1 ga?ge thezconnecting rod to exert the;neeess'ary pressurethereon to takeup the wear at its pivot joints 21 and engage. a a a athe greatest pressure where the greatest pressure is needed: viz-on inthe steering knuckle, and thatthis pressure is ina rearward direction inline with the direction of the pressure or thrust and the greatest wearwhen the car is lieing drivcn ahead thus holding this knuckle in itsnatural position against lost motlon and v bration and at the same timeI exert a yleldlng frictional pres sure on the connecting rod wheresuehlight pressure only is required, butin some, instances instead offorming the lover of wire a I may employ a strip of metal as bestillustrated in Figure 5, in which the ehdQS is hooked around in front ofthe king bolt hub let, the same being i'ulcruinedat the point 27 on theaxle and the free end 29 of this lever is grooved as at 30 to snap overthe connecting rod 19, the tension of which holds the device in positionby its own resilient tension without bolts or other fastenings. a a t Itwill be noted in both of my improved constructions that no fasteningmeans is used, and that the device is so shaped as to a .r

nated which is due, to a large extent from the friction between the ends25 and 31 of mytdeviceand the parts with which they lyimproved device isvery simple and atoperation and by its use the rattle and vibration andalso-the wabbling and shimmying of the wheels is effectually prevented.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the constructionillustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve theprivilege of resorting toall the mechanical changes to which the deviceis susceptible, the invention being defined and Isa) i of thesteeringwheel may be entirelyeliiniv at 31 which hooks are of a size to looselyfit tractive in construction, is effective in its 1 till limitedonly bythe terms of {the appended claims.

Iclaimr 1. In a vehicle, an axleforked at its steering knuckles pivotedin said forked ends, a rearwarally-extending'arm on each oted at eachend to said knuckle arms, and a reslhent wear take-up tensionmember hav;

ofsaid knuckles, a connecting crossrod' piv- III .ing one end arrangedto extend thru said lork to engage and exert a lateral prying action onsaid knuckle, the opposite end of said member while under tension beingpositioned to slidably engage said connecting rod to apply tension toits pivot joints and also exert a frictional pressure on the rod toresist a tree endways movement thereof.

2. In a vehicle, an axle forked at its end, steering knuckles pivoted inthe forked ends of the axle, a rearivardly extending arm on eachknuckle, a cross rod spaced from the axle and pivotally connected ateach end to said knuckle arms and a resilient lever having a. bodyportion with one end shaped to extend thru said fork and engage the for-Ward side of said knuckle to'exert a rear Ward prying action thereon andfulcrumed adjacent said end on said axle, the opposite end of said leverfrictionally engaging said connecting rod to slide therein underpressure to take up wear on the joints at both of its ends and alsoresist a free endways and a resilient leverinember formed of fold edWire fulcrumed adjacent one of its ends on the axle to exert a Weartake-up prying pressure 011 said knuckle joint, the opposite long end ofthe lever being folded into loop form to engage said cross rod and exertpressure thereon to take up wear of its oints and also exert aneffective frictional action to resist the free sliding movement.

of the cross rod thru said end loops. I

In testimonyavhereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN F. CAVANAGH.

